On her arrival at the Chennai airport after a fortnight-long sojourn in Delhi, the AIADMK chief, who appeared quite listless, blamed the secular parties in the country for having failed to use the opportunity provided by the AIADMK to install an alternative government at the Centre. ``We played our part by pulling out our 18 MPs. That was something within our part to do. I strove to the utmost to sort out differences''.

Vehemently denying that AIADMK had posed any stumbling block in the formation of an alternative government, she clarified that the party was willing to support any sort of formation a Congress minority government, Congress-led coalition or a Third Front coalition.

With the polls round the corner, she claimed that the AIADMKwould play a crucial part in pitchforking a government which would provide security for all sections of the people in the country. Asked to name the parties that would provide such a government, she shot back: ``You know the secular parties''.

She said it was premature to talk about electoral alliances now and the party's executive committee and general council would decide on the question of poll tie-up. But significantly, she hinted that the party would align with the secular parties in Tamil Nadu. However, she cautiously, refused to name the parties.

Asked whether there was a possibility of a Third Front in Tamil Nadu, she responded in the positive.

Justifying the AIADMK's withdrawal of support leading to the fall of the Vajpayee government, she maintained that the BJP-led government did not provide protection to minorities, endangered national security, resorted to arbitrary action leading to demoralisation of armed forces.

On the action of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry withdrawing permissionfor entry of her convoy to enter the airport tarmac at Meenambakkam, she said she anticipated such a treatment when she withdrew support to the BJP-led government. However, as an afterthought, they had allowed my vehicle alone to enter the tarmac. ``If they had not allowed, I was prepared to come along with the common people'', she declared.